A community event to promote safety honored the legacy of a late Greenville County deputy on Saturday.

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Sgt. Brian Donnelly, 59, died after battling cancer in November 2013. He spent nearly 40 years in law enforcement, including 24 years at the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.

Sgt. Brian Donnelly Safety Awareness Day took place outside an Allstate Insurance office in Taylors and featured K9 officers and their dogs, a free bike helmet giveaway, children's activities and crime prevention information stations.

"It's not so much about his memory as much as the legacy of what he did in safety in the community," Christine Donnelly, also a deputy, said about her late husband. "His job was more than just a job. It was a ministry to him."

Christine Donnelly said Allstate hosted the event because of the sergeant's widespread efforts to promote safety.

"They did not want to see that legacy or involvement in the community stopped," Christine Donnelly told WYFF.

The event not only included representatives from the Sheriff's Office but also Safe Kids Upstate and the American Red Cross, an agency that Brian Donnelly served for 45 years.

He was also known for his crime prevention presentations that paid homage to the "Andy Griffith Show."

"The thing about Mayberry is it was a small town where everybody got to know each other. Everyone knew all about each other," Brian Donnelly told WYFF in July 2012. "If they had a problem, they would go to Andy. That's the basic concept of a neighborhood watch -- neighbors watching out for each other. And if you have a problem, let law enforcement know."

Christine Donnelly said in some ways her husband might have a mixed reaction to see the safety awareness event that bears his name.

"I can just see him from heaven looking down and going 'Such a fuss!,'" Christine Donnelly said. "But on the other hand, he would be excited to see that the element of being able to get the word out about safety."